Exam year guidance - AQA GCSE to A-Levels birth date ranges

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Exam year guidance from AQA provides birth date ranges used to map candidates to exam years across multiple qualification types. Tables list “Date of birth from” and “To” alongside GCSE, A-Levels, and earlier routes such as A-Levels, O-Levels/CSE, O-Levels, School Certificate, and Higher School Certificate. Notes explain that the school leaving age changed, so some exams may have been taken a year earlier than listed. AQA charity and company registration details are included.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Date of birth to exam year mapping

GCSE and A-Levels

O-Levels/CSE and earlier qualifications

School leaving age note

| Exam year guidance | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Date of birth from | To | GCSE | A-Levels | | 01 September 1998 | 31 August 1999 | 2015 | 2017 | | 01 September 1997 | 31 August 1998 | 2014 | 2016 | | 01 September 1996 | 31 August 1997 | 2013 | 2015 | | 01 September 1995 | 31 August 1996 | 2012 | 2014 | | 01 September 1994 | 31 August 1995 | 2011 | 2013 | | 01 September 1993 | 31 August 1994 | 2010 | 2012 | | 01 September 1992 | 31 August 1993 | 2009 | 2011 | | 01 September 1991 | 31 August 1992 | 2008 | 2010 | | 01 September 1990 | 31 August 1991 | 2007 | 2009 | | 01 September 1989 | 31 August 1990 | 2006 | 2008 | | 01 September 1988 | 31 August 1989 | 2005 | 2007 | | 01 September 1987 | 31 August 1988 | 2004 | 2006 | | 01 September 1986 | 31 August 1987 | 2003 | 2005 | | 01 September 1985 | 31 August 1986 | 2002 | 2004 | | 01 September 1984 | 31 August 1985 | 2001 | 2003 | | 01 September 1983 | 31 August 1984 | 2000 | 2002 | | 01 September 1982 | 31 August 1983 | 1999 | 2001 | AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. | 01 September 1981 | 31 August 1982 | 1998 | 2000 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 01 September 1980 | 31 August 1981 | 1997 | 1999 | | 01 September 1979 | 31 August 1980 | 1996 | 1998 | | 01 September 1978 | 31 August 1979 | 1995 | 1997 | | 01 September 1977 | 31 August 1978 | 1994 | 1996 | | 01 September 1976 | 31 August 1977 | 1993 | 1995 | | 01 September 1975 | 31 August 1976 | 1992 | 1994 | | 01 September 1974 | 31 August 1975 | 1991 | 1993 | | 01 September 1973 | 31 August 1974 | 1990 | 1992 | | 01 September 1972 | 31 August 1973 | 1989 | 1991 | | 01 September 1971 | 31 August 1972 | 1988 | 1990 | | Date of birth from | To | O-Levels/CSE | A-Levels | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 01 September 1970 | 31 August 1971 | 1987 | 1989 | | 01 September 1969 | 31 August 1970 | 1986 | 1988 | | 01 September 1968 | 31 August 1969 | 1985 | 1987 | | 01 September 1967 | 31 August 1968 | 1984 | 1986 | | 01 September 1966 | 31 August 1967 | 1983 | 1985 | | 01 September 1965 | 31 August 1966 | 1982 | 1984 | AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. 2 of 5 | 01 September 1964 | 31 August 1965 | 1981 | 1983 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 01 September 1963 | 31 August 1964 | 1980 | 1982 | | 01 September 1962 | 31 August 1963 | 1979 | 1981 | | 01 September 1961 | 31 August 1962 | 1978 | 1980 | | 01 September 1960 | 31 August 1961 | 1977 | 1979 | | 01 September 1959 | 31 August 1960 | 1976 | 1978 | | 01 September 1958 | 31 August 1959 | 1975 | 1977 | | 01 September 1957 | 31 August 1958 | 1974 | 1976 | | The school leaving age changed during the years below so you might have taken exams a year earlier than listed | | | | | 01 September 1956 | 31 August 1957 | 1973 | 1975 | | 01 September 1955 | 31 August 1956 | 1972 | 1974 | | 01 September 1954 | 31 August 1955 | 1971 | 1973 | | 01 September 1953 | 31 August 1954 | 1970 | 1972 | | 01 September 1952 | 31 August 1953 | 1969 | 1971 | | 01 September 1951 | 31 August 1952 | 1968 | 1970 | | 01 September 1950 | 31 August 1951 | 1967 | 1969 | | 01 September 1949 | 31 August 1950 | 1966 | 1968 | | 01 September 1948 | 31 August 1949 | 1965 | 1967 | | 01 September 1947 | 31 August 1948 | 1964
(no CSE before this year) | 1966 | AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. 3 of 5 | 01 September 1946 | 31 August 1947 | 1963 | 1965 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 01 September 1945 | 31 August 1946 | 1962 | 1964 | | 01 September 1944 | 31 August 1945 | 1961 | 1963 | | Dat

FAQs

How are birth date ranges used to determine exam years for GCSE and A-Levels?

The tables match each “Date of birth from” and “To” range to an exam year under GCSE and A-Levels columns.

What earlier qualification routes are covered besides GCSE and A-Levels?

The guidance includes O-Levels/CSE, O-Levels, School Certificate, and Higher School Certificate mappings for relevant birth date periods.

Why might a student take an exam a year earlier than the listed year?

The document notes that the school leaving age changed over the years shown, so exams could be taken a year earlier than the listed guidance.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick